In a shocking turn of events, Saint Joseph's pulled off a stunning upset over St. Bonaventure, defeating the Bonnies 68-64 at the Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena. This victory is a significant boost to the Hawks' resume, as they took down a team ranked 24 spots higher in the net rankings. Saint Joseph's, now 13-8, proved they can hang with tougher opponents, and this win will undoubtedly give them a confidence boost moving forward.
Jaiden Glover-Toscano was the star of the show for Saint Joseph's, scoring 23 points to lead the Hawks to victory. He was supported by Dasear Haskins, who chipped in with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Derek Simpson, who added 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. The trio's impressive performance was too much for St. Bonaventure to handle, despite a valiant effort from Frank Mitchell, who scored 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for the Bonnies. Cayden Charles and Darryl Simmons II also made significant contributions for St. Bonaventure, scoring 17 and 14 points, respectively.
At halftime, Saint Joseph's held a 7-point lead, with the score sitting at 35-28. However, St. Bonaventure refused to back down, mounting a fierce comeback in the second half. The Bonnies outscored the Hawks 36-33 in the final 20 minutes, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Saint Joseph's held on for the 4-point victory, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
This upset win is a massive resume builder for Saint Joseph's, as it counts as a Quadrant 3 victory. For St. Bonaventure, the loss is a Quadrant 3 defeat, which may hurt their tournament chances. The Bonnies, now 12-8, must regroup and refocus to get their season back on track. With this win, Saint Joseph's has improved their chances of making a push for the tournament, while St. Bonaventure must string together some wins to get back into the conversation.
The implications of this result cannot be overstated. Saint Joseph's has proven they can compete with and beat teams ranked higher than them, which will undoubtedly give them a boost in confidence. As the season wears on, this win could be a crucial factor in the Hawks' tournament chances. For St. Bonaventure, the loss is a setback, but they still have time to recover and make a push for the postseason. This game will be a significant factor in the tournament selection committee's decision, and Saint Joseph's has certainly made a strong case for themselves with this upset victory.